Turnover device

ABSTRACT

A turnover device for rotating a longitudinal member having a center of gravity and carried by a supporting member having a supporting surface is disclosed. The turnover device has a frame disposed adjacent the supporting member, a tilting member on one side of the frame and a receiving member adjacent the tilting member on the side of the frame. The tilting member and receiving member are movable on the frame. Drive means are connected to the tilting member and the receiving member for moving the tilting member and the receiving member from a normal rest position coincident with or below the supporting surface to a longitudinal member tilting position so that the tilting member engages the longitudinal member and rotates the longitudinal member beyond the center of gravity, thereby causing the longitudinal member to fall back onto the support member during the retracting movement of the tilting member and the receiving member.

United States Patent [191 Suter 54 TURNOVER DEVICE [75] Inventor: Walter Suter, Willoughby Hills,

Ohio I [73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa. [22] Filed: May 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 142,865

[52] U.S. Cl. ..2l4/l QC [5]] Int. Cl. ..B65q 7/08 [58] Field of Search ..214/! Q, 1 QA, 1 06; 198/33 AC, 33 AD [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,761 4/1911 Mcllvried ..2l4/1 QG 1,376,300 4/1921 Thomas ..214/1 QG 2,940,612 6/1960 Shimeld ..214/l QG 1,791,962 2/1931 Holtus ..214/1 QG FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 634,386 8/1936 Germany ..214/1 QG 1 3,732,990 1 May 15, 1973 ABSTRACT A turnover device for rotating a longitudinal member having a center of gravity and carried by a supporting member having a supporting surface is disclosed. The turnover device has a frame disposed adjacent the supporting member, a tilting member on one side of the frame and a receiving member adjacent the tilting member on the side of the frame. The tilting member and receiving member are movable on the frame. Drive means are connected to the tilting member and the receiving member for moving the tilting member and the receiving member from a normal rest position coincident with or below the supporting surface to a longitudinal member tilting position so that the tilting member engages the longitudinal member and rotates the longitudinal member beyond the center of gravity, thereby causing the longitudinal member to fall back onto the support member during the retracting movement of the tilting member and the receiving member.

12 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures l I I 1 TURNOVER DEVICE I-Ieretofore, turnover devices employed in conjunction with punches, shears, drills, welders, sandblasting equipment, painting apparatus and the like have rotated longitudinal members, such as wide flange sections, l-beams, channels, angles and the like by cranes with special hooks, pry bars, chain turnover devices and the like. These conventional turnover devices require additional manpower, are time consuming and are not safety oriented.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforesaid objects of this invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing an improved turnover device for rotating a longitudinal member about 90. This turnover device has aframe disposed adjacent the supporting member, a tilting member on one side of the frame and a receiving member adjacent the tilting member on one side of the frame. Drive means are connected to the tilting member and the receiving member for moving the tilting member and the receiving member from a normal rest position coincident with or below the supporting surface to a longitudinal member tilting position so that the tilting member engages the longitudinal member and rotates the longitudinal member beyond the center of gravity, thereby causing the longitudinal member to fall back onto the support member during the retracting movement of the tilting member and the receiving member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts through the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a roller table, an embodiment of the improved turnover device of the oscillating type and a longitudinal member, such as an I-beam or the like, which I-beam is to be rotated about 90 by the turnover device;

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view taken along the line 13-18 of FIG. 1A in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 1C is another side elevational view taken along the line lC-1C of FIG. 1B in the direction of the arrows but showing the tilting member and receiving member in the tilting position;

, FIGS. 2A-2R are diagrammatic and elevational views showing the operation of the turnover device;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative embodiment of the tilting member having a plurality of protuberances and cavities thereon;

FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A showing another embodiment of the tilting member;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2A-2R of an alternative embodiment of the turnover device of the reciprocating type; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a centering device for aligning the rotated longitudinal work piece along the centerline of the work too].

Although the principles of this invention are broadly applicable to the rotation of a longitudinal member disposed on a supporting member through an angle of about the invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a turnover device for rotating 1- beams or the like being processed through apparatus such as a punch, shear, drill, welder, sand blasting equipment, painting equipment, and the like, and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference to the form ofthe invention illustrated in the drawings and referring particularly to FIGS. lA-lC, a supporting member, such as a roller table or the like, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. This roller table 10 has a frame 12 (FIGS.

TURNQVER DEVICE 18 This turnover device 18 has a frame 20 (FIG. 1A,1C) and is provided with a tilting member 26 (FIGS. lA- 1C,2A-2R) and a receiving member 28 (FIGS. 1A,lC,2A-2R). As shown in FIG. 1A, the tilting member 26 is disposed on one side (i.e., the lower portion) of the frame 20 and the receiving member 28 is dis posed on the other side (i.e., the upper side) of the frame 20. In order to reverse the clockwise tilting movement of the tilting device 18 shown in FIGS. 2A-2R, the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 will be mounted on opposite sides of the frame 20 from the positions shown in FIG. 1A.

Drive means 30 (FIGS. lA-lC) are connected to the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28. Such drive means 30 has a pair of hydraulic cylinders 32 (FIGS. lA,lB) having their pistons 34 (FIGS. 1A,1B), each pivotably connected at 36 (FIGS. 1AlC) to a bell crank 38 (FIGS. lA-lC) mounted on a shaft 40 (FIGS. lA-lC) journaled in a bearing 42 (FIGS. lA-lC) on the frame 20 of the tilting device 1-8. The bell cranks 38 are connected at 44 (FIG. 18) to the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 thereby causing oscillating movement through an angle B (FIG. 1B) of the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 between a normal rest position (FIGS. 1A,1B) coincident with or below the supporting surface S of the rollers 14 to a longitudinal member tilting position shown in FIGS. 1C,2C.

OPERATION Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2R, the I-beam 16 is centered on the centerline AA (FIGS. 1A,2A) of the work tool (not shown) by means of a spreader beam 46 (FIG. 2A) supported by a hoist 48 (FIG. 2A) and carrying magnets 50 (FIG. 2A), which magnets 50 engage the web 16a of the I-beam 16 to center it with respect to the turnover device 18. As the I-beam 16 is centered in alignment with respect to the turnover device 18, the drive means 30 moves the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 from the rest position (FIGS. 1A,1B) through the arc B (FIG. 1B) to the position shown in FIG. 2B where the tilting surface 52 (FIGS. 1C,2B) on the tilting member 26 (suitably a serrated surface or the like) engages a corner 54 (FIG. 2B) of the flange 16b thereby moving the I-beam 16 from the position shown in FIG. 2A to the position shown in FIG. 2B.

When the tilting member 26 has moved the corner 54 to the position shown in FIG. 2C, the I-beam 16 has moved beyond its center of gravity G (FIGS. 2B,2C,2R) and the I-beam 16 begins to fall, as shown in FIG. 2D, backwardly toward the supporting surface S formed by the rollers 14 and the lower supporting surface 28a (FIG. 2D) of the receiving member 28. Simultaneously, the drive means 30 retracts the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 through the angle B (FIG. 1B) from the position shown in FIG. 2C through the position shown in FIG. 2D to the normal rest position shown in FIGS. 1B,2A. Meanwhile, the I- beam 16 has fallen back onto the supporting surface S of the rollers 14 (FIG. 2D) so that the flange 16c rests thereon as shown in FIG. 215.

After, for example, the punching of the flange 16b to provide flange holes 55 (FIG. 2F) or the like by a punching apparatus (not shown), the drive means 30 once again oscillates the tilting surface 52 into contact with another corner 54a (FIG. 2G) of the flange 16a of the l-beam l6, and the opposite corner 54b of the flange 16c rests on lower supporting surface 28a, as shown in FIGS. 2F and 2G, so that once again the I- beam 16 is moved beyond the center of gravity G (FIG. 2H). The flange 16b rests on the receiving member 28 (FIG. 2H) during the retraction of the turnover device 18, such flange 16b being lowered by the receiving member 28 through the position shown in FIG. 2.] to the position on the rollers 14 shown in FIG. 2K. Thereafter, after the completion of another operation, such as the sand blasting of the web 160 (not shown) or the like, the drive means 30 (FIG. 2M) once again elevates the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 to cause engagement by the tilting member 26 with the corner 54b of the flange 160 (FIG. 2M) and the corner 54d to engage the lower supporting surface 280, once again causing the I-beam 16 to move, as shown in FIGS. 2N and 2P beyond the center of gravity G so that the flange 16b rests on the supporting surface S formed by the rollers 14 as shown in FIG. 2R.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, alternatively as shown in FIG. 3A, the tilting surface 52 on the tilting member 26 may be formed by a plurality of square or rectangular protuberances 56 and cavities 58. FIG. 3B shows pointed protuberances 56a,

pronged protuberances 56b, corrugations 56c, lipped protuberances 56d, or the like.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the turnover device 18 may be of the reciprocating type. Such turnover device 18 has the tilting member 26 and the receiving member 28 mounted in suitable guides 60 and formed into an integral member driven by the piston 62 of the cylinder 64.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the longitudinal members 16 vary in length from about 10 feet to about 45 feet and that depending on such length, one or more turnover devices 18 (FIGS. l-3B) and 18 (FIG. 4) are connected in tandem to perform the turnover operation.

In FIG. 5, a centering device 66 is employed to return the rotated beam 16 to the centerline A-A of the work tool (not shown). Hydraulic cylinders 68 have their pistons 70 connected at 72 to bell cranks 73 pivoted at 74 on the frame 20. Rollers 66 on the free end of the bell cranks 73 center the beam 16 on the work tool centerline A-A.

SUMMARY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing an improved turnover device 18 (FIGS. 1A-2R) and 18 (FIG. 4) which turnover devices 18,18 are positive in their action, require only one operator, rotate the longitudinal member, such as an I-beam 16 or the like, in less time than the time required by conventional turnover devices (not shown), are more safety oriented than conventional turnover devices, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and are simple and rugged in construction.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, preferred and alternative embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A turnover device for rotating a longitudinal member having a center of gravity and carried by a supporting member having a supporting surface, said turnover device having:

a. a frame disposed adjacent said supporting member;

b. a tilting member on one side of said frame;

0. a receiving member adjacent said tilting member and on the other side of said frame;

1. said tilting member and said receiving member being movable on said frame;

. drive means connected to said tilting member and said receiving member for moving said tilting member and said receiving member from a nominal rest position coincident with or below said supporting surface to a longitudinal member tilting position above said supporting surface so that said tilting member engages said longitudinal member to lift said longitudinal member off said supporting surface during the rotation of said longitudinal member and rotates said longitudinal member beyond said center of gravity thereby causing said longitudinal member to fall back onto said supporting member during the retracting movement of said tilting member and said receiving member.

2. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a serrated surface.

3. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said receiving member has a smooth surface.

4. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said drive means oscillates said tilting member and said receiving member between said rest position and said tilting position.

5. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said drive means reciprocates said tilting member and said receiving member between said rest position and said tilting position.

6. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a protuberance.

7. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a cavity.

8. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a pointed protuberance.

9. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a pronged protuberance.

10. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein.

member. 

1. A turnover device for rotating a longitudinal member having a center of gravity and carried by a supporting member having a supporting surface, said turnover device having: a. a frame disposed adjacent said supporting member; b. a tilting member on one side of said frame; c. a receiving member adjacent said tilting member and on the other side of said frame;
 1. said tilting member and said receiving member being movable on said frame; d. drive means connected to said tilting member and said receiving member for moving said tilting member and said receiving member from a nominal rest position coincident with or below said supporting surface to a longitudinal member tilting position above said supporting surface so that said tilting member engages said longitudinal member to lift said longitudinal member off said supporting surface during the rotation of said longitudinal member and rotates said longitudinal member beyond said center of gravity thereby causing said longitudinal member to fall back onto said supporting member during the retracting movement of said tilting member and said receiving member.
 2. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a serrated surface.
 3. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said receiving member has a smooth surface.
 4. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said drive means oscillates said tilting member and said receiving member between said rest position and said tilting position.
 5. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said drive means reciprocates said tilting member and said receiving member between said rest position and said tilting position.
 6. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a protuberance.
 7. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a cavity.
 8. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a pointed protuberance.
 9. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a pronged protuberance.
 10. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a corrugation.
 11. The turnover device recited in claim 1 wherein said tilting member has a tilting surface provided with a lipped protuberance.
 12. The turnover device recited in claim 1 and having: a. a centering device disposed adjacent said supporting member and engageable with said longitudinal member after rotation of said longitudinal member by said turnover device for returning said longitudinal member to the centerline of said supporting member. 